Urine is the main source of nitrate leaching in grazed dairy pasture. Dairy cow urine deposits the equivalent of 800-1000kg N/ha in each urine patch.
Eco-n holds the nitrogen (N) that is normally leached or emitted during the drainage season, in the root zone so the plant can use it. It does this by slowing the activity of the nitrifying bacteria in the soil that convert ammonium to nitrate. This boosts the N supply to pasture for plant growth during the growing season.
N conversion in soil
Eco-n in the nitrogen cycle
Eco-n reduces losses from all the nitrogen sources:
Urine
Dung
Fertiliser
N-fixation
Soil N mineralisation
This increased retention of N means there is more N available for plant growth.